Linebacker is likely the thinnest position on North Carolina’s football team in terms of college experience, and the Tar Heels are even thinner there right now owing to injuries.
According to people close to the issue, Amare Campbell, UNC’s new starting middle linebacker, has broken his right hand. He is wearing a cast and did not participate in the Tar Heels’ training camp practice sessions on Saturday and Sunday. He is not anticipated to miss any games, however, and should return to practice soon, according to reports.
Campbell, a sophomore, turns 19 on August 29, and Carolina opens the 2024 season same night at Minnesota. As a true freshman last season, he learned from All-ACC standout linebackers Cedric Gray and Power Echols. Campbell has already earned the trust of UNC defensive leaders Kaimon Rucker and Alijah Huzzie, who recently expressed their confidence in him.
However, with Campbell out for the time being, the Tar Heels must rely on sophomore Michael Short and redshirt freshman Caleb LaVallee, as well as the other starter Echols. Short has backed up Campbell at middle linebacker, while LaVallee has served as Echols’ backup at weak-side linebacker.
During Campbell’s absence, true freshman Ashton Woods and sophomore Cade Law may also be considered for additional opportunities. When asked about the Tar Heels’ linebacker possibilities behind Echols and Campbell at his first training camp press conference, new UNC defensive coordinator Geoff Collins mentioned Short, LaVallee, Woods, and Law five days ago. When asked if the team’s linebacker depth is developing, UNC coach Mack Brown confirmed those names following Sunday practice.
“We’ve got a really good battle behind them with Caleb LaVallee, Michael Short, Ashton Woods, and Cade Law,” Collins stated during Tuesday’s practice. “Those are four pretty good backers that we’re rotating at different positions to determine who can be the third and even fourth linebacker. Then there’s some of the various bundles we provide. “Moving those guys into some of those positions as well.”
Brown stated that the Tar Heels’ less-experienced linebackers worked on defense during the team’s goal-line scrimmage portion of Sunday’s practice, but that neither Echols nor Campbell participated in that activity.
Brown explained on Sunday that the goal is to emphasize getting the best players on the field, regardless of specific positions. “We need the best guys out there, and it’s essential to cross-train them,” he said. “If someone can’t play middle linebacker but excels at weak-side, that’s not what I want. We’re focusing on cross-training, which is why we’re working with these players in our goal-line scrimmage today. Power and Amare were sidelined, so we had all the younger guys competing. While Amare is still young, he has more experience than the others.”
Gray, a former three-year starter, consistently praised Campbell throughout last season, even as Campbell was a true freshman, as UNC’s next standout linebacker. Campbell made his first start in the final game of last season, the Tar Heels’ loss to West Virginia in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, after Gray declared for the NFL Draft. During the bowl game, Campbell recorded a season-high four tackles, including one for a loss, and applied pressure on the quarterback. He ended the season with 14 tackles, two tackles for losses, one sack (against Campbell of the FCS), and one interception (against Syracuse) while playing in 11 games, mostly in a backup role as Gray and Echols handled the majority of the workload.
Cornerback Huzzie noted during a training camp practice that Campbell combines the strengths of both Gray and Echols. “He’s physical, fast, quick, and smart,” Huzzie said. “He knows how to read plays, and he’s a very intelligent football player. I believe he’s going to be a very good player.”
At the ACC Kickoff preseason event in late July, defensive end Rucker expressed confidence in Campbell’s progress. “He has the maturity to understand the play-calling and what’s expected of him as a player,” Rucker said in Charlotte, N.C. “I have full confidence in him to get the job done.”
UNC defensive end Beau Atkinson echoed similar sentiments after a practice last weekend, praising Campbell as an instinctive linebacker. “He makes plays that are pretty rare,” Atkinson said. “He’s always in the right spot.”
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